Tandy Professional Forum   Section: Model 4 / 4P
Subject: Model 4 serial comm.   Total messages: 13
==================================================

#62513   4 Replies   09/29/96   17:19:04
From: John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254
To:   All

My father-in-law picked up a Model 4 at a garage sale.  I think
he got some disks with it (probably DOS).

He'd like to use it for communications, specifically to log into
the MLS listings from home (he's a realtor).  Was an internal
modem available for this unit, or was it necessary to use an
external modem with the serial port (which this unit does not
have either)?  Would anyone around here have the necessary
hardware (and software, if needed) available for me to get it up
and running for him?

   John


#62514   Reply to #62513   1 Reply   09/29/96   19:20:26
From: Bernie Skoch, 75376,12
To:   John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254

John,
  The Model 4 was not an MSDOS machine.  It was provided with a
version of LDOS called TRSDOS 6, which evolved up through 6.2.1.

  No internal modems were available.  Most Model 4's were sold
with disk drives and a standard 25-pin serial port.  Carefully
turn the thing over and look at the bottom of the computer,
you'll likely see a DB-25 connector (the serial port).
  The Model 4 could attach to most any serial-input external
modem.  You'll need a cable to connect the computer to the modem,
an operating system (an appropriate version of LDOS or TRSDOS), a
terminal program (a somewhat difficult to use one was provided
with TRSDOS), and a modem.
Regards,
bernie


#62517   Reply to #62514   1 Reply   09/29/96   21:23:08
From: John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254
To:   Bernie Skoch, 75376,12

I probably should have explained some details about myself so
that others would understand how 'technical' to get with me. <G>


I'm very computer literate.  I work on my own machines (PC's) in
my own business, which is a Wireless Communications company.  I
do hardware development, as well as component level repairs on
communications equipment. I also develop software, related to
wireless communications, and using serial communications.

>The Model 4 was not an MSDOS machine.  It was provided with a
version of >LDOS called TRSDOS 6, which evolved up through
6.2.1.

I realize that the Model 4 was not an MSDOS machine and that
Radio Shack had it's own version of a disk operating system.  I
believe that there were some diskettes with my father-in-law's
machine, and I would assume, at this point in time, that they
included TRSDOS.

>No internal modems were available.  Most Model 4's were sold
with disk >drives and a standard 25-pin serial port.  Carefully
turn the thing over and >look at the bottom of the computer,
you'll likely see a DB-25 connector (the >serial port).

>The Model 4 could attach to most any serial-input external
modem.  You'll >need a cable to connect the computer to the
modem, an operating system (an >appropriate version of LDOS or
TRSDOS), a terminal program (a somewhat >difficult to use one was
provided with TRSDOS), and a modem.

Again, I'm VERY familiar with serial communications, as this is
the area that I specialize in with the software that I develop.


What I am not familiar with is the specific hardware of the Model
4.  This particular machine of my father-in-law's does NOT have a
serial port, but rather a multiple pin 'header' connector in the
bottom, towards the back, where a serial port accessory board
apparently plugged in.  I also did not know whether Radio Shack
sold an internal modem for this machine or not.

Is such a serial port board available from anyone around here?

   John


#62519   Reply to #62513   1 Reply   09/30/96   14:25:21
From: JOHN D.HASSETT,SR, 74471,464
To:   John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254

      Dear John:
                 I Have a TRS-80 Model 4 with 2-Disk Drives ,and
a 1200 Bd
Modem ,This Computer has a plug on the bottom for a Modem.
               I got This 12 years ago and it works fine,it  runs
on LSDOS,
not MSDOS,the solfware is made by microsolf,not radioshack,
Microsolf made this solfware for Radioshack called TRSDOS.62

             Thank you,

        John D. Hassett,Sr.


#62520   Reply to #62519   1 Reply   09/30/96   14:44:16
From: John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254
To:   JOHN D.HASSETT,SR, 74471,464

>I Have a TRS-80 Model 4 with 2-Disk Drives ,and a 1200 Bd Modem
,This >Computer has a plug on the bottom for a Modem.  I got This
12 years ago and >it works fine,it  runs on LSDOS, not MSDOS,the
solfware is made by >microsolf,not radioshack, Microsolf made
this solfware for Radioshack called >TRSDOS.62

That sounds like something that my father-in-law might be able to
use.  He just wants something inexpensive that he can use as a
communications terminal to access real estate MLS listings.

Would you be interested in selling part, or all, of the package?


   John


#62521   Reply to #62517   1 Reply   10/01/96   02:36:25
From: Bernie Skoch, 75376,12
To:   John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254

John,
  I apologize if I talked down to you.  Didn't intend to, but as
you might guess, there's a wide range of computer literacy and
familiarity with the old TRSDOS machines.  Sorry if I offended.

   When John says his machine has a "plug for a modem" on the
bottom, I 'm betting he means the DB-25.  There was no
proprietary modem for the machine.  The old Model 4p had a slot
for a proprietary 300bps modem (and someone later marketed a
1200bps modem for it), but that was the "portable" (luggable)
Model 4 in the sewing-machine case, not the Model 4 case you
have.
  You need a serial card for the thing.  I have a few,
unfortunately (being in the military) they are in storage on the
mainland.  Maybe someone else here has one.  Frank ("TRS80
Recycler") hangs around our forum.  He'll likely chime in.  The
card is mounted internally, and the DB25 sticks out the bottom.

  The other connectors you see on the bottom are the parallel
machine bus and the Cnetronics-compatible printer connector.
Both are edge connectors.
  Best of luck, and again, sorry for the (poor) assumptions on
your literacy.
Regards from Hawaii,
bernie


#62522   Reply to #62521   10/01/96   10:13:02
From: John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254
To:   Bernie Skoch, 75376,12

>I apologize if I talked down to you.  Didn't intend to, but as
you might >guess, there's a wide range of computer literacy and
familiarity with the >old TRSDOS machines.  Sorry if I offended.


Don't worry about it. <G>  I should have been more explicit about
what I do know.  That does make me feel good, about you, though,
for you to mention it.  I always enjoy meeting people that think
about other's, since this is a very 'lacking' quality in today's
world.

   John


#62524   Reply to #62513   1 Reply   10/02/96   21:02:18
From: Frank Slinkman, 72411,650
To:   John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254

I don't know where you are, but the MLS listing around here now
require at least 256-color VGA (lots of graphics, including pix
of listings) which the M4 is simply incapable of displaying.

There's a 25-pin connector at the back of this machine to which
you can plug any external modem up to ~14.4K.  Realize, of
course, these machines were built when 1200 bps was considered
*FAST*, and 2400 bps was unheard of.

So, as long as your father-in-law is only interested in text
transmission, this machine will suffice.  There are shareware and
freeware comm programs available in the libs here, and LS-DOS has
a built in no-protocol comm program which, if you know what
you're doing, can be used to DL a "real" comm program to use.


#62525   Reply to #62524   1 Reply   10/03/96   09:19:21
From: John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254
To:   Frank Slinkman, 72411,650

>I don't know where you are, but the MLS listing around here now
require at >least 256-color VGA (lots of graphics, including pix
of listings) which the >M4 is simply incapable of displaying.

I didn't even think about that! <G>  I assumed (assuming always
gets me into trouble <G>) that MLS was text based, but I forgot
about the possibility of photos of the listings.  I guess that
pretty well shoots that down.  Thanks for mentioning it before I
spent a lot of time getting this old Model 4 working (for
nothing. <G>)

>There's a 25-pin connector at the back of this machine to which
you can plug >any external modem up to ~14.4K.  Realize, of
course, these machines were >built when 1200 bps was considered
*FAST*, and 2400 bps was unheard of.

That thought had gone through my mind.  I figured that a serial
interface for the Model 4 would probably use 8250 uarts, which
don't work well above 9600 baud (although I've seen them work,
with some 'comm overun' errors, as high as 19200, in some
cases).

Thanks again for the information.  I appreciate it very much.

   John


#62526   Reply to #62520   10/03/96   10:45:03
From: JOHN D.HASSETT,SR, 74471,464
To:   John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254

Dear John:
  I have a Model 3 and Model 4 with 2 Disk Drives in each and
each with
Disk Drives 3 and 4 with 30 Meg Hard Drives,But they are not for
Sale
But,Thank you for asking.

Chief,John D.Hassett,Sr.

THE POWHATAN NATION


#62528   Reply to #62525   10/03/96   23:10:19
From: Frank Slinkman, 72411,650
To:   John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254

What's the old canard?

A S S U M E -- it makes and ASS out of U and an ASS out of ME.


#62552   Reply to #62513   1 Reply   10/14/96   01:56:08
From: Frank Gottschalk, 72623,40
To:   John Rayfield, Jr., 70363,254

Hi John, I'm a little late in chiming in, but if you're still
interested in getting your father-in-law's Model 4 going for
intended purposes, I have all the parts and programs you'll need.
Serial boards, cables, Modems, Comm Programs, etc. I use my M4 to
access BBS's, and Internet regularly, but as Frank S. stated, no
colored graphic pictures, only text. The M4 can handle GIF format
graphics such as are on Compuserve, but reduces them to 2 color.
Let me know if I can help.
 Frank Gottschalk (TRS-80 RECYCLER).... Reply here, or E-Mail to
72623.40@compuserve.com, or phone (510)-651-2313 8A-11PM PST.




#62554   Reply to #62552   10/14/96   14:03:31
From: Bernie Skoch, 75376,12
To:   Frank Gottschalk, 72623,40

Frank,
  We all wondered where you'd been for ths guy! <g>
  Glad to see you chimin in.
  Regards,
  Bernie


